Behind Closed Doors: For Brian Mahern, a failed coup on the City-County Council

Last week's City-County Council meeting got interesting, and it wasn't because Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard delivered his annual budget presentation.

After the mayor finished speaking, Democrats abruptly called for a recess. They huddled behind closed doors to talk strategy after catching wind that rogue Democrat Brian Mahern had been plotting with the minority Republicans to attempt to remove President Maggie Lewis from her position.

They reconvened, and Mahern called for a vote on whether to add a proposal to remove Lewis on the council's Sept. 9 agenda.

Why? Frustration had been mounting for Mahern and the Republicans over the majority Democrats' penchant for dominating committee assignment decisions and other procedural issues. Mahern was still smarting from his removal earlier this month from the powerful Rules and Public Policy Committee, which he once chaired.

"I believe it is time for the council to have a debate about whether the leadership of this council is appropriate," Mahern told his colleagues.

Later, there was talk of behind-the-scenes scheming during the recess, including offers made to Republican member Christine Scales in an attempt to secure her vote.

Another Republican, Jeff Miller, had hinted at his intention moments earlier when he said: "Madam president, whatever happens tonight, you are an awesome president."

Through the discussion and vote, Lewis presided calmly, as though she was handling the debate over a boring funding ordinance.

After the meeting, she said: "I recognize that I'm in my position because my colleagues put me there," and she still felt most supported her, despite Mahern's recent protests. "So Councilor Mahern performing that stunt he did tonight, I was not surprised."

GOP praise and pain for Bucshon

Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, is getting both pressure and help from GOP groups over Obamacare.

Crossroads GPS, a group linked to Republican strategist Karl Rove, launched online ads last week, promoting a bill Bucshon supports to change part of the 2010 health care overhaul law.

Instead of businesses having to provide health care to employees who work at least 30 hours a week, the requirement would be raised to 40 hours a week.

But Heritage Action for America, the political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, also ran ads last week. As part of a $550,000 expenditure in 100 congressional districts, the online ads encouraged GOP lawmakers to stop Obamacare by refusing to support any budget bill that includes funding for it.

The dueling ads are part of the continuing battle within the Republican party over whether it needs to become more or less conservative to win back Congress and the White House.

The Club for Growth, which argues that the party should be more conservative, singled out Bucshon earlier this year as a Republican who votes too liberally for his district.

But Karl Rove and his allies have created the Conservative Victory Project to counter efforts like the Club for Growth's and back candidates in primary battles viewed as more electable in a general election.

Pence's national address keeps up GOP drumbeat against Obamacare

Gov. Mike Pence delivered the national weekly Republican address on Saturday, saying businesses and workers are in "survival mode" because of President Barack Obama's health care reforms.

He said Republican governors have solutions to improve health care without weighing down the economy.

The national GOP address was Pence's seventh since President Obama was sworn into office in January 2009, but his first as governor of Indiana.

He delivered the other six while serving as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 6th Congressional District.

Pence is the fifth Republican from Indiana to deliver the national address this year. U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks, R-5th District, Jackie Walorski, R-2ndDistrict, Luke Messer, R-6th District, and Todd Young, R-9th District have also been selected to deliver the GOP address this year.

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Behind Closed Doors: For Brian Mahern, a failed coup on the City-County Council

Last week's City-County Council meeting got interesting, and it wasn't because Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard delivered his annual budget presentation.